Seoul shares end weaker led by refiners;autos rise

* KOSPI falls 0.36 pct

* Weaker won, recent falls in crude pressure energy issues

* Hynix outperforms after asset sale news

(Updates to close)

By Jungyoun Park

SEOUL, May 18 (Reuters) - Seoul shares declined on Monday led
by energy issues including SK Energy (096770.KS), which sank on
weakness in the won currency KRW= and recent falls in crude
prices, but gains in automakers lent support.

The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI)
finished down 0.36 percent at 1,386.68 points, trimming losses
after sinking to an earlier low of 1,366.58.

"The index is having difficulties rising more meaningfully
above its 20-day moving average, as there is no real buying
force. It seems investors are waiting for more reassuring signs
of an economic turnaround," said Park Suk-hyun, a market analyst
at KTB Securities.

The main KOSPI index's 20-day average is about 1,370 points,
according to Reuters data.

SK Energy, South Korea's top crude refiner, shed 3.4 percent
and S-Oil (010950.KS), the country's third-largest, lost 2.15
percent.

But the weaker won KRW= boosted auto exporters, sending
Hyundai Motor (005380.KS) 1.1 percent higher and Kia Motors
(000270.KS) up 4.8 percent.

Shares in Hynix Semiconductor (000660.KS) outperformed the
broader market, rising 0.75 percent, after the world's No.2
memory chip maker said on Monday it would sell packaging and
testing equipment worth $305 million to a soon-to be formed
back-end joint venture in China. [ID:nSEO238868]

Meanwhile news late on Friday that North Korea was cancelling
all wage, rent and tax agreements with South Korea on the joint
Kaesong factory park weighed on some stocks in companies that
have production units in the factory park, but had a limited
impact on the broader market. [ID:nPEK58006]

"Seoul market participants have become quite immune to North
Korea-related news and tend not to react sensitively unless the
development has a scale of impact that may affect South Korea's
sovereign rating," Lee said.

But shares in watchmaker Romanson (026040.KQ), which has a
production facility in Kaesong factory park, fell 5.26 percent.

Elsewhere Shinsegae Co Ltd (004170.KS) advanced after the
discount retail chain and department store operator reported on
Friday that its April sales increased 18 percent year-on-year.
Analysts said sales from its discount store chain E-Mart were
stronger than expected amid the current economic downturn.

"While other retailers concentrate on their upscale
department store businesses, Shinsegae has focused more on the
discount retail business, which helped it achieve
better-than-expected sales," said Son Yoon-kyung, an analyst at
Kiwoom.Com Securities.

Shinsegae shares ended up 2.54 percent while Hyundai
Department Store (069960.KS) lost 5.26 percent.